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Science & Mathematics

The Museum's collections hold thousands of objects related to chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, and other sciences. Instruments range from early American telescopes to lasers. Rare glassware and other artifacts from the laboratory of Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, are among the scientific treasures here. A Gilbert chemistry set of about 1937 and other objects testify to the pleasures of amateur science. Artifacts also help illuminate the social and political history of biology and the roles of women and minorities in science.

The mathematics collection holds artifacts from slide rules and flash cards to code-breaking equipment. More than 1,000 models demonstrate some of the problems and principles of mathematics, and 80 abstract paintings by illustrator and cartoonist Crockett Johnson show his visual interpretations of mathematical theorems.

This low power binocular is a Spencer Model 55 with rack and pinion focus on the body and fine focus in the eyepieces, rotating triple nosepiece, large rectangular stage with adjustable diaphragm, large sub-stage mirror, and wooden case. The inscription reads “SPENCER / BUFFALO / U.S.A.” The 129614 serial number indicates a date of 1934.

This low-power binocular is a Spencer Model 56 with coarse and fine focus, rotating triple nosepiece (only one objective survives), large rectangular stage, and wooden box. The inscription reads “SPENCER / BUFFALO / USA / 121744.” The serial number indicates a date of 1933. A S.I. tag on the arm reads 31968.

The Spencer Lens Co., in 1929, described their New Universal Binocular Microscopes No. 55 and No. 56 as “exceptionally large instruments” that met “in a most satisfactory way the demand for a large stage.” Each was equipped with Spencer’s new “Multiple Revolving Nosepiece” in which was dust-proof, and so arranged that the objectives could be easily removed and replaced with others.

Zeiss began marketing stereoscopic microscopes in 1897, noting that the idea had originated with Horatio Saltstall Greenough (1845-1916), an American zoologist and, incidentally, son of the sculptor, Horatio Greenough. Zeiss introduced this model XA stand in the early 1930s.

This is a stereoscopic instrument with coarse and fine focus, square stage, folding wooden ramps that clip to the stage, sub-stage mirror, and wooden box with extra lenses. The inscription reads “CARL ZEISS / JENA” and “GERMANY.” There may be a 1741319 serial number.

Zeiss began marketing stereoscopic microscopes in 1897, noting that the idea had originated with Horatio Saltstall Greenough (1845-1916), an American zoologist and, incidentally, son of the sculptor, Horatio Greenough. The firm introduced this model XA stand in the early 1930s.

The Spencer Lens Co. boasted in 1920 that the No. 44 was “the most popular of all Spencer Microscopes. Thousands are now in daily use in medical and general laboratories, also by physicians.” In 1930, the No. 44 was “the most popular of all Spencer microscopes for routine work in the laboratory of the hospital, medical school, or general practitioner.” It was “simple in design and durable in construction,” and “fully meets all standard requirements.”

This is an example of the Stand 4 that Zeiss introduced in the early twentieth century. It is a compound monocular with coarse and fine focus, triple nosepiece, circular stage, trunnion, sub-stage diaphragm and condenser, sub-stage mirror, horseshoe base, and wooden box with three extra lenses. The inscription on the eye tube reads “CARL ZEISS / JENA / NO 29291.” Those on the stage read “CARL ZEISS / JENA” and “GERMANY” and “1200.”

Bausch & Lomb introduced their Physician’s microscope in 1877, boasting that it was “firm and well balanced” and well adapted “to the use of physicians and students.” The stand and case cost $40; with two objectives and camera lucida it cost $65. Ernst Gundlach, the Prussian immigrant who had become superintendent of the firm’s new microscope department in 1876, was largely responsible for the form.

This example is a compound monocular with coarse and fine focus, double nosepiece, rectangular stage, inclination joint, sub-stage aperture ring with three different diaphragms, sub-stage mirror, curvaceous base, and wooden box with extra lenses. The body and tube are nickel-plated brass; the base is black iron; the stage is heavy glass. The inscription on the tube reads “BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO. ROCHESTER, N.Y.” That on the arm reads “PAT. OCT. 3. 1876.” That on the metal slide holder reads “PAT. DEC. 25, 77.”

This was used by Robert Selden (1847-1921), a physician in Catskill, New York. The 1594 serial number on the card in the box suggests that it dates from around 1881.

The florid inscription on the tube reads “G. V. BLACK / Presented / by the CLASS OF ’99 / and / The Alumni Association of the Northwestern University / DENTAL SOCIETY / March 1899.” Greene Vardiman Black (1836-1915) was the second dean of the Northwestern University Dental School.

This is a “Binocular Popular Microscope” with inter-ocular adjustment, coarse and fine focus, mechanical stage, trunnion, sub-stage mirror on a Lister limb, adjustable triangular base, and wooden box with extra objectives. The form was advertised as a Third-Class instrument that cost between $82.50 and $137.50, depending on accessories.

This example belonged to Greene Vardiman Black (1836-1915), an American dental pioneer. The inscription on the base reads “R. & J. BECK / LONDON / 5949.” The serial number indicates a date in the late 1860s.